Wrapping machine



Aug. 6,1935. R E 2,010,275

WRAPPING MACHINE 1. Filed July 7, 1934 4 Sheats-Sheet 1 Q Li Aug; 6, A G. ROSE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7 WMM+ Aug. 6, 1935. A, ROSE 2,010,275

' WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1934 4 Sheet-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fla M*M Aug, 6,1935. A, g;, R5 5 v 2,010,275

WRAPPIIINGv MACHINE 7 Filed July 7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcE WRAPPING MACHINE Application July 7, 1934, Serial No. 734,135 In Great Britain May 22, 1933 16 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to wrapping or packeting machines of the kind in which an article to be wrapped, such as a block or charge of tobacco, is pressed into a 5 mould lined with a sheet of wrapping material having free ends or flaps projecting from the mould, which flaps are folded and laid over the exposed surfaces of the article, to produce a wrapped package. A machine of this kind is fully described in United States patent specification No. 586,076.

In machines of this kind, as hitherto proposed, the flaps of the wrapping material have each been folded and laid over the article by a layermember which engages the outer surface of the upstanding flap andis then moved in the appropriate direction with the result that the flap r0- tates as a whole about one edge of the article and is constrained into the desired position by further movement of the layer-member. Machines of the kind described have also incorporated means, termed a flap-lifting device, for

moving a flap into, or supporting it in, a position in which the layer-member can engage it.

Whereas such machines are satisfactory where comparatively stiff wrapping material is used, it is found that Where the wrapping material employed is very thin or fragile, such as thin metal foil or thin sheets of the material sold under the registered trade-mark Cellophane, there is a tendency for the flaps to collapse, buckle, distort or tear during the folding or laying operations or during the operation of the flap-lifting device, and it is the principal object of the present invention so to modify wrapping or packeting machines of the kind described as to enable very thin or fragile wrapping material to be used.

According to the present invention, in or for a wrapping or packeting machine of the kind described, there is provided, in combination, a controlling device to engage the flap on the side opposite the layer-member and means to move the controlling device in company with the layermember during the laying operation.

According to another feature of the invention, there is provided the combination with the layermember, of a controlling device to engage the flap on the opposite side from the layer-member and 50 thereby to support the flap during the laying operation, and means to move the controlling device in advance of the layer-member and in the same sense; preferably, the controlling device engages the flap at a point further from the article to be wrapped than the point of engagement of the layer-member with the wrapper; the purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that, during the laying operation, the flap shall be curved backwardly towards the layer-member, whereby the possibility of distortion or buckling 5 in the flap is eliminated as hereinafter more fully explained.

According to another feature of the present invention the said controlling means also engages the flap prior to the folding or laying op- 10 eration so as to co-operate with the flap-lifting device in positioning the flap.

While the invention may be applied to any machine of the kind above described, it is particularly applicable to a machine of that known form in which the moulds are arranged around the periphery of a mould-wheel or drum and in which each sheet of wrapping material is so placed in the appropriate mould that one flap is considerably longer than the other; when the longer flap is folded and laid over the exposed surface of the article to be wrapped, its end overhangs the other side of the article and is subsequently folded down on to the side of the article in a manner hereinafter more particularly explained.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which--- 30 Figures 1 and 2 are views of parts of the mouldwheel, of a wrapping machine, according to the invention, and the associated parts.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7 are detailed views, to an enlarged scale, of the mould and layer-mem- 35 her, showing the controlling device, according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the controlling device and corresponds to Figure 5, and

Figure 9 is a view showing the arrangement for operating the layer member and controlling device.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a mouldwheel ll carries moulds H around its periphery. For example, in the machine illustrated, there 4 would be twelve moulds l I on the wheel I. Each of the moulds H comprises a fixed side and bottom and a movable side or jaw [2 which is rotatable about a pivot IS in known manner.

Situated above the mould-wheel is a chute H for tobacco or other material which is to be wrapped up in the form of packets and a presser l5 operates to press the charge of tobacco entering the mould into a. compact block 39 (see Figure 2). 5.

Sheets of wrapping material are fed into the operating position by means of an endless conveyor-chain 16 having hooks I! each of which engages the edge of a sheet of the material and feeds it along. When a sheet of wrapping material reaches a. point near to the mould-wheel ID,

a trigger i8 is operated by means of links l9 and 20 to throw the sheet on to a platform 2| which has stops 22 to limit the movement of the sheet. The platform 2! is in the form of two rails, one each side of the mould-wheel, and the stops 22 are adjustable on these rails by means of bolts 23.

When the sheet of wrapping material is in position on the platform 2!, the platform is rotated downwardly by means of the arm 24 and at the same time, a plunger 25 is moved by an arm 26 into the position shown in Figure 2. It will be seen that the wrapper is thus pressed into the mould with two projecting flaps 2'1 and 28 standing clear. The rear flap 277 is considerably longer than the front flap 28. The plunger has a ledge 29 formed on its front edge so that the forward flap 28 is bent over as shown in Figure 2.

The mould-wheel is now rotated to bring the mould having the sheet of wrapping paper within it beneath the chute it through which a charge of tobacco or other material falls into the lined mould. During the rotation of the mould-wheel the edges of the sheet of wrapping material which project laterally from the mouldwheel are held in position by'means of gripping devices which are not illustrated in the drawings nor described in the present specification but are well known in machines of this kind. The presser l5 compresses the charge of tobacco into a compact block and the mould-wheel moves on to the next position.

When the mould H reaches the position shown at 33 in Figure 2, a flap-lifter, which will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8, lifts the longer flap 2! into the position shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 in readiness for engagement by the layer-member 3 I.

Referring now to Figure 3, the flap-lifter is shown at 32. This device is itself known in wrapping machines of the kind described and is disclosed, for example, in British patent specification No. 270,886. The layer-member 3! is carried on an arm 33 which is rotatable about a spindle or axle 3 The controlling device according to the invention takes the form of a rod 35 which is carried on two arms 36 which are formed integrally or otherwise rigidly connected with the arm 33 of the layer-member 3|. The arrangement of these parts can be seen from Figure 8.

When the flap-lifter 32 engages the flap 27, the layer-member 31 is in its uppermost position as shown in Figure 3 and the controlling device 35 is therefore also in its uppermost position and a row of pegs 37 carried by the rod 35 projects and engages'the rear surface of the flap 2'1 and thus co-operates with the flap-lifter 32 to hold the flap 21 in position in readiness for engagement of the flap by the layermember 3|.

As has been explained above, the present invention is particularly applicable to machines of the kind described for use with wrapping material which is very thin or flimsy and it is found that the row of pegs 3'! offers suiiicient support to the rear surface of the flap 21 to prevent it from collapsing or buckling when held in the position shown in Figure 3 by the flap-lifter 32. g

The arms 33 and 3B are now rotated in the diflap, the flap 21 falls over, rotating about the nearest edge of the block of tobacco 39, but it is prevented from collapsing into a crumpled or.

irregular shape by the pegs 38 which are also carried on the rod 35.

The flap therefore takes in Figure 4 and it will be seen that the effect of the pegs 38 is to cause the flap to assume a backwardly-bent configuration towards the layer-member 3!. As the layer-member moves along the flap, by reason of the configuration of the fiap shown in Figure 4, the flap is subjected to gentle tension and any distortion or crumpling is smoothed out by the passage of the layermember.

As explained above, the ledge 29 of the plunger 25 ensures that the shorter fiap 28 shall be bent outwardly, but with very thin or very flexible packing material there is a possibility of the shorter flap 28 springing back into the path of the longer flap 21. For this reason, the controlling device is so arranged that the rod 35, as shown in Figure 4, strikes against the shorter flap 28 and pushes it aside out of the path of the longer flap 2?. It is thus impossible for the shorter flap 28 to become entrapped under the longer flap 27.

When the layer-member and the controlling device reach the position shown in Figure 5, the end of the longer flap 2'! falls from the peg 38 on to the lower peg 37. The extent to which the flap 2'! is bent backwardly thus decreases towards the end of the laying operation.

The final stage in the laying operation is shown in Figure 6 in which the layer-member 35 has reached the limit of its travel, and is pressed down flat on the block of tobacco 39. At this stage of the operation, the movable jaw 52 of the mould is rotated outwardly about its pivot #3 so as to uncover the forward edge of the block of tobacco and so as to allow the shorter flap 28 to fall outwardly into the position shown.

A finger 40 rotatable about a pivot M on the main frame of the machine, and controlled by a cam in known manner, descends and folds the overhanging edge of the longer flap 2'! down the side of the block of tobacco. The jaw l2 then moves back into its original position as shown in Figure 7 and, at the same time, the finger 48 is retracted.

It remains to fold down the shorter flap 28 on to the top of the tobacco block 37 and over the longer flap 21. The folding of the shorter flap 28 is e ected by a pivoted bar of known construction (not shown) but the flap is constrained in the general direction desired by the engagement with it of the pegs 37 on the rod 35 which engagement occurs either when the arms 33 and 36 are returned to their initial position as shown in Figure 3 or else when the mould-wheel is rotated through another step.

As shown in Figure 9, the layer member 3i, and the controlling device 35, which are carried by the arms 33 and 33 respectively, on the shaft 34, are operated by a lever 50 on the shaft 34 engaging a rod 5!, the other end of which is pivoted to a lever 52 rotatable about an axle 53 fixed to a part 54 of the frame of the machine.

The lever 52 carries a roller 55 which engages with the edge of a cam 56 which is rotated by a shaft 51 which also carries a sprocket (not shown) up the position shown for the chain It. The chain thus drives the cam.

The roller 55 is held in engagement with the cam 56 by the action of a tension spring 58 which acts between the lever 5| and fixed point 53 on the frame 54. It will be seen that as the cam 56 rotates the lever 52 will be rocked by the action of the spring 58, whereby the controlling device 35 and the layer member 3| will be operated in the manner described with reference to Figures It will be understood that the three stages above described, namely, inserting the paper, inserting the tobacco, and folding the two flaps, all take place simultaneously on three different moulds ll. As each mould moves from left to right as shown in Figure 1, it first receives the paper, then the tobacco, and then the flaps are folded as above described. The mould-wheel is rotated intermittently by mechanism of known construction. 7

The form of wrapper employed, namely, that in which one of the flaps is considerably longer than the other, is preferable since it results in a superior form of package, but in the invention can also be applied to a form of package in which, the flap 21 does not overhang the surface of the tobacco block 31. 'In this modification, the pivoted arrangement of the jaw I! might be dispensed with and the rotating finger 40 (Figure 6) would be unnecessary.

The form of controlling device 35, 31, 38, de-

scribed and illustrated, is not the only form which might be used. For example, instead of separate pegs 31 and 38 each row might be replaced by a bar and the two bars might be formed integrally with one another so as to make an L-shaped bar supported at its angle on the rod 35. Alternatively, in some forms of machine of the kind described, it might be possible to dispense with one row of pegs 31 or 38, or with the corresponding bar, and to use a single projection or sets of projections.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a layer-member, a controlling device to engage a fiap on the side opposite the layer-member during the major portion of the laying operation, and means to move the controlling device in company with the layer-member and in the same direction during the laying operation.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a layer-member of a controlling device to engage a flap on the side opposite to the layer-membenand thereby to support the flap during the major portion of the laying operation, and means to move the controlling device in advance of the layer-member and in the same sense.

3. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a layer-member, a controlling device to engage a fiap on the side opposite the layer-member, and thereby to support the flap during the major portion of the laying operation, and means to move the controlling device in advance of the layer-member and in the same sense and at the same speed.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a layer-member, a controlling device to engage a flap on the side opposite the layer-member and also to engage the flap prior to the folding or laying operation so as to co-operate with a flaplifting device in positioning the flap, and means to simultaneously move in the same direction the controlling device in company with the layermember during the laying operation.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a layer-member, a controlling device to engage a flap on the side opposite the layer-member during the laying operation, and means to simultaneously move the controlling device in company with the layer-member and in the same direction during the laying or folding operation, the controlling device being arranged to also engage, during its travel, another flap of the wrapping sheet so as to move it out of the path of the first said flap.

6. A machine of the class described wherein a wrapper is so disposed in a mould that one fiap is longer than the other fiap and is folded on to the front edge of the article by means of an auxiliary finger, comprising, in combination, a layer-member, a controlling device to engage the longer flap on the side opposite the layer-member, means to move the controlling device in advance of the layer-member and in the same sense and means to move the shorter flap out of the path of the longer flap during the laying operation.

'7. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a layer member, of means for engaging the flap to be laid on the side opposite that engaged by the layer member throughout the major portion of the laying operation and movable progressively from a point intermediate the flap toward the free edge of the fiap, said layer member and said means being arranged for simultaneous movement in the same direction.

8. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a layer member of a controlling device to engage and support a flap on the side opposite the layer member, said controlling device having a plurality of projections thereon for successively engaging the wrapper on the side opposite the layer member during the laying operation.

9. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a layer member of a controlling device to engage and support a flap on the side opposite the layer member, said controlling device having a plurality of projections thereon for successively engaging the wrapper on the side opposite the layer member during the laying operation, said lifting member and controlling device being arranged to move simultaneously in the same direction.

10. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a layer member of a controlling device to engage and support a flap on the side opposite the layer member, said controlling device having a plurality of projections thereon for successively engaging the wrapper on the side opposite the layer member during the laying operation, said layer member and controlling device being held in spaced relation throughout the operating cycle.

11. In a wrapping machine, a mold for receiving a wrapper, means for forcing a wrapper into said mold with unequal flaps of said wrapper projecting from the opposite sides of the mold, a layer member for engaging the longer flap and to fold it over the article to bewrapped, and a controlling device for supporting said flap on the side opposite the layer member, said layer member and controlling device being held in spaced relation throughout the operating cycle.

' 12. In a wrapping machine, a mold for receiving a wrapper, means for forcing a wrapper into said mold with unequal flaps of said wrapper projecting from the opposite sides of the mold, a layer member for engaging the longer flap and to fold it over the article to be wrapped, a controlling device for supporting said fiap on the side opposite the layer member, said layer member and controlling device being held in spaced relation throughout the operating cycle, and means for folding the overhanging edge of the longer flap down one side of the article to be wrapped. v

13. In a wrapping machine of the class described, a flap lifter, a controlling device arranged to cooperate with the flap lifter to hold the flap between them at the beginning of the laying operation in a position in readiness for engagement of the flap by a laying member, said laying member and controlling device being arranged to move simultaneously in the same direction during the laying operation. v

14. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a layer member of a controlling device to engage and support a flap on the side opposite the layer member, said controlling device having a member thereon for successively engaging the wrapper on the side opposite the layer. member (lining the major portion of the laying operation, said layer member and controlling device being held in spaced relation throughout the operating 0 cle.

15. In a wrapping machine, a mold for receiving a wrapper, means for forcing a wrapper into said mold with flaps 01' said wrapper projecting from the opposite sides of the mold, a layer member for engaging one of said flaps and to fold it over the article to be wrapped, and a controlling device for supporting said flap on the side opposite the layer member during the major portion of the laying operation, said layer member and controlling device being held in spaced relation throughout the operating cycle.

16. In a wrapping machine, a mold for receiving a wrapper, means for forcing a wrapper into said mold with flaps of said wrapper projecting from the opposite sides of the mold, a layer-member for engaging one of said flaps and to fold it over the article to be wrapped, a controlling device for supporting said flap on the side opposite the layer member, and for moving the second flap out of the path of the first flap whereby the second flap is prevented from becoming entrapped under 20 the first flap.

ALFRED GERMAN ROSE. 

